A MARTIAL arts instructor who spied on a pupil as she stripped and washed was yesterday jailed for six months.

Andrew Finn was also ordered to sign on the sex offenders' register for seven years and was banned from working with children for five years.

The 55-year-old, who ran two karate clubs in the North-East, was told by a judge he had betrayed the trust of his pupil and her parents.

Finn was due to stand trial last month on charges of sexual assault and causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity.

But the trial was abandoned when he admitted charges of voyeurism and common assault -a move accepted by prosecutors and his victim.

Finn admitted observing the girl, aged under 13, for sexual gratification as she washed on one occasion.

The assault was committed on the same girl -a pupil at one of his karate schools.

Appearing at Teesside Crown Court, Finn, of Tebay Close, Ormesby, Middlesbrough, was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order for five years.

As well as the ban on working with children, he was also barred from going to establishments such as gyms, community centres and leisure facilities.

Judge Peter Armstrong told him: "I have no doubt you have done some good work in the sports field with youngsters, but these offences are serious.

"You were involved with the karate club and were in a position of trust, and parents are supposed to have confidence in those trusted to mind youngsters."

A report by probation officials concluded that married father Finn had a lack of insight into his offending, but barrister Robin Denny, in mitigation, said his client's guilty pleas had saved his victim the ordeal of having to give evidence.

A statement prepared by the girl's mother said the effects of her abuse are continuing to cause problems for her.

In 2004, Finn was cleared by a jury of five charges of indecent assaults against a pupil he was alleged to have taken back to his home.